Tong Zizhu rely dropped by to say hello before leaving. Xia Pingzhou did not get the chance to ask her about Su Ying's past, but there would be plenty of ti for that later. He was in no rush.
"The newcor reminds
a bit of Lan Duo Duo," Andrew casually ntioned inside the private room.
"You must be losing your mind missing Lan Duo Duo," the Blood Progenitor replied.
"Still, their personalities are sowhat similar."
"Right? Right?" Andrew chid in.
"Similar how?" the Blood Progenitor asked disapprovingly.
The Ripper pondered for a mont. "How should I put it... they are both a bit naturally clumsy."
She paused and glanced over at Xia Pingzhou. "If so stranger ca up and called
'Mom,' I would have ripped their guts out on the spot."
Xia Pingzhou and Ayase Origami had no desire to join the conversation. The two sat close together, playing Gobang out of sheer boredom.
He could not exactly comnt, 'She really does resemble my mom a bit.' Instead, he changed the subject. "By the way, I want to take a trip to London tomorrow. Do you guys want to co?"
"You have zero emotional intelligence, rookie. Before asking us, shouldn't you consult the Young Mistress first?" Andrew contorted his face playfully and patted his shoulder, speaking in a tone of exaggerated disappointnt.
"They are like conjoined twins, is there even a need to ask?" the Blood Progenitor scoffed. "They will definitely be together."
"I suppose I could tag along," the Ripper said, pausing briefly. "I have nothing to do anyway, and the Leader hasn't told
when our next operation begins."
"How long do you usually wait between missions?" Xia Pingzhou asked as he drew an X on the paper with his pencil.
The Blood Progenitor thought about it. "A month at the shortest, maybe a year at the longest."
"So that ans we have at least a month of vacation?" Xia Pingzhou asked.
"Yeah, usually," the Ripper yawned.
'As if. In just a few days, the Leader is going to drag you all into the Whalegarden for hard labor. You will be worked to death,' Xia Pingzhou thought.
Tomorrow night, July 25th, Ji Minghuan would control Host Body One, the Black Cocoon, to et Qi Yuanli on the rooftop of Lijing Third Middle School.
At that ti, he would discuss the various details of the Whalegarden operation with the Leader.
Xia Pingzhou estimated that the probability of the Brigade Leader accepting this cooperation request was as high as ninety-five percent.
Because the Leader was an incredibly curious person. Even without the intelligence regarding the internal strife of the Whalegarden's Royal Family, he would never pass up an opportunity to enter the Garden World.
If anyone believed that losing a mber or two would make this arrogantly wild brigade of thieves hold back, they would be dead wrong. They were a group of villains who lived towards death. As long as they drew breath, they would chase what they desired like mad dogs.
"When are you leaving for London?" the Ripper asked.
Without looking up, Xia Pingzhou replied, "Tomorrow night. Hacker will send you a text to your phone. Just et us at the airport then."
"Oh."
The day after they arrived in London, he would most likely see Kong Youling and Sun Changkong with his own eyes... More importantly, aside from them, the Salvation Society's operation roster included a child he was unfamiliar with—Mario.
Because he had no grasp on Mario's personality, this child was the biggest unpredictable factor.
However, at least they were bringing Jack the Ripper along. The Ripper had already advanced to Tier 3, and with her unique Celestial Drive chanics, she unquestionably possessed Calamity-Tier strength.
In the best-case scenario, they might be able to get there a step early and quietly take away the Red Traffic Light without clashing with the Salvation Society.
But if things went awry, and the Young Mistress along with the Ghost Train Gang were killed by those children from the Salvation Society during the scramble for the Red Traffic Light, Xia Pingzhou found it hard to imagine how things would proceed from there...
He only knew that there was an absolute crucial elent to this mission: the Black Cocoon could not be discovered by the Salvation Society under any circumstances. Otherwise, all his efforts would go down the drain.
"Kitten... you are distracted." A clear, cold voice drifted into his ears, interrupting his train of thought.
"How do you know I am distracted?" Xia Pingzhou lifted his eyes from the chessboard drawn on the paper.
The kimono girl looked up, eting his gaze directly. She stared at Xia Pingzhou in silence, the tips of her ears turning slightly red. After a mont, she averted her eyes and said no more.
They played a few more gas before stopping, quietly sipping their orange juice. Seeing that the other mbers around them were completely drunk, the two snuck away. They returned to the streets of Venice, strolling leisurely and gazing out at the rchant ships coming and going under the evening light.
[Xia Pingzhou: By the way, did you investigate the person nad Su Ying?]
[Hacker: This person is very mysterious. All information about her has been officially deleted. If you really want to look into her, I will have to fish for more intel from the newcor, but it will be quite a hassle.]
[Xia Pingzhou: Oh, let
know if you find anything.]
[Hacker: You are way too gossipy. You want to use
to help you pick up girls, don't you? No way.]
[Xia Pingzhou: I am gay.]
[Hacker: I suddenly feel like I am in danger. I am done chatting, goodbye.]
Xia Pingzhou put away his phone and stood beside Ayase Origami, gazing over the river's surface under the veil of night. The streets on both banks were brightly lit, and pedestrians walked by the shore, talking and laughing.
"Xia Pingzhou," the pale girl suddenly stopped in her tracks and called out softly.
"What is it?"
"What is your true na?"
Xia Pingzhou remained silent for a long ti before murmuring, "If there is a chance in the future, I will tell you."
"Why?"
Xia Pingzhou did not answer. He lowered his head in thought, then suddenly raised a finger, pointing at a pleasure boat in the distance. "We leave tomorrow. Let's go for another ride." Mottled and hazy light spilled from the street, shrouding his profile and stretching his shadow out long across the ground.
The kimono girl lifted her eyes, silently gazing at him. The evening breeze gently ruffled her hair.
After a long pause, she gave a silent nod.
The two took a boat ride to enjoy the brightly lit night scenery of Venice once more. It was already late by the ti they returned. The chirping of cicadas accompanied the gentle rustling of the Grand Canal, drifting into the interior of the hotel. Ayase Origami read a book under the moonlight, while Xia Pingzhou lay in bed and closed his eyes.
The clock on the wall continued to tick away. The ti was exactly midnight on July 25th.
Due to the ti difference, dawn had already broken over the Whalegarden. Therefore, he synchronized his consciousness into Unit 3.
"Glub, glub..."
In a groggy state, Yagubalu spat out a mouthful of seawater and slowly opened his eyes from within the crystal ball. The day was just dawning, yet the sky outside the window was once again veiled in a blood-like twilight.
The Whalegarden only ever experienced dusk and night. Staying here always brought about a suffocating and sorrowful feeling.
Of course, the prerequisite was that one had to have lived in the outside world. Otherwise, one would not even be aware of the differences between the two worlds, let alone feel uncomfortable about it.
'That guy Li Qingping must dislike staying in the Whalegarden as a superior person precisely because he has experienced the vast outside world, right?'
At this thought, Yagubalu lifted his head and looked around the bedroom.
Slices of toast and so milk remained untouched on the table. Xize'er had not eaten breakfast; instead, he stood in front of the mirror, adjusting his clothes. At so point, he had cut off a large chunk of the long white hair that used to cascade down his back. All of a sudden, his hairstyle looked much neater.
"Good morning, Yagubalu," he said softly.
"Good morning, Xize'er," Yagubalu replied. "Before you eat anything, you had better let Shasha check if it is poisoned. Only eat it if it is safe. Otherwise, if you get poisoned to death, I won't care."
Speaking of which, he had actually always been puzzled. If the Queen could poison the King, why not poison Xize'er?
Compared to doing everything possible to find soone to assassinate him, wouldn't it be far more convenient to make Xize'er contract the Black Death as well? Was there so hidden reason behind this?
Xize'er shook his head and said slowly, "No, my body has been immune to all toxins since I was a child. At first, I did not know why... Later, Father King told
it was a miraculous blessing from our ancestors. Only the most favored mber of the Royal Family in each generation receives this blessing."
"So that is how it is..." Yagubalu sighed. "No wonder your brothers target you. After all, in their eyes, you are exceptionally blessed by nature. It is as if the whole world favors you. It would be strange if they weren't jealous."
Xize'er remained silent, seemingly reluctant to discuss the topic.
"I want to call Li Qingping to my side..." He paused. "Before August 1st arrives, I will need him."
"Of course, you should have done that ages ago. Li Qingping is the only person in the Garden World who is on your side," Yagubalu said.
"Am I being entirely selfish, dragging Li Qingping into this ss? If he dies..."
Yagubalu interrupted him. "You haven't even asked for Li Qingping's willingness, so how can you conclude that you are selfish? Besides... you just want to survive. What is wrong with that?"
"Hmm..." Xize'er lowered his gaze. "Also, I want to go to the Royal Palace today to see Father King, even though he hasn't woken up."
"You can certainly go see him one last ti. After all, once that is done, we will have to focus entirely on how to escape."
Xize'er fell silent for a long ti before asking softly, "Yagubalu, do you think I am useless... only thinking about running away myself, watching my father die while being completely powerless to stop it."
"No, as a twelve-year-old child, you have already tried your hardest, Xize'er." Yagubalu shook his head. "I, Shasha, have lived for thousands of years, and aren't I still just a good-for-nothing who only knows how to eat, drink, and play?" Saying this, he slapped his tail against the seawater.
Xize'er smiled soundlessly.
Just then, Butler Shiva's voice echoed from outside the door. "Third Prince, Your Highness, the Vice-Captain of the Royal Court Squad, 'Li Qingping,' has co to visit."
Xize'er froze in surprise.
Yagubalu said calmly, "You see? Even if you don't call for him, that silly thing will co running over on his own. So stop talking about being afraid of dragging him into this. This is what he signed up for."
Xize'er shook his head, his expression a mixture of joy and sorrow. He stayed quiet for a mont before answering the butler outside, "Let Li Qingping in."
"Right away, Your Highness."
Before long, the crisp sound of footsteps echoed down the corridor. Li Qingping pushed open the door, stepped into the bedroom, and dropped to one knee before Xize'er. He respectfully said:
"Greetings, Your Highness Xize'er."
Yagubalu peered through the crystal ball and saw that Li Qingping was still dressed in a black suit today, his shoulder-length black hair left untied. This man was completely unorthodox and stood out like a sore thumb inside the Garden World; he simply loved being different from everyone else.
"Li Qingping, didn't I tell you?" Xize'er said. "I do not need you to kneel to ."
Li Qingping stood up straight. Then, remaining expressionless, he declared, "Your Highness Xize'er, per the Queen's wishes, I will be escorting you out of the Garden World on August 1st. Therefore, I will remain by your side for the duration of this upcoming period."
"Is this your own decision?"
"That is correct."
"Then what will you do if sothing cos up with the Royal Court Squad?"
"Just yesterday, I officially resigned from the Royal Court Squad. The paperwork is currently being processed." Li Qingping paused. "So... no matter who summons
next, I will stay closely by your side without moving an inch."
Xize'er was silent for a mont. "Li Qingping, knowing full well the danger you will face, do you still choose to follow ?"
Li Qingping looked up, a faint smirk tugging at the corners of his lips. "After all, Your Highness Xize'er and I are not just superiors and subordinates. We have also been friends for many years, haven't we?"
"Thank you, Li Qingping," Xize'er said. "Ah... speaking of friends, I actually wanted to introduce you to another friend of mine. You ca at the perfect ti."
Li Qingping raised an eyebrow, asking curiously, "May I ask who this friend of Your Highness is?"
Xize'er slowly raised a finger and pointed at the crystal ball on the nightstand. "Him."
Li Qingping blinked in surprise. He looked over, only to see the harmless-looking Norbe Shark inside the crystal ball suddenly flash a wide grin at him, exposing a row of sharp little fangs.
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